Writing coordinator



Jan. 10, 1939.

G, T. WRIDE WRITING COORDINATOR Filed Aug. 5, 1936 [NVE/VTOR PatentedJan. 10, 1939 l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WRITING COORDINATOR GeorgeT. Wride, LosAngeles, Calif. Application August 5, 1936, Serial No.94,396 6 Claims. (01. 35-36) This invention relates in general toimprovewithin the scope of the claims may be resorted ments ineducational appliances and more parto without departing from the spiritor sacrificing ticularly pertains to a device which may be any of theadvantages of the invention.

efficaciously and advantageously used in teach- Fig. 1 is a top planView of the device of this ing the arts of writing and drawing.invention. 5

An object of this invention is to provide an Fig. 2 is a top plan viewof the device showing appliance such as hereinafter described which thepantograph portion completely turned over by will develop a propercoordination of the eye bending the flexible link as at 5 withoutrequiring and hand for Writing and drawing purposes by a hinge or joint.Fig. 2 also shows the pencilrequiring in its use that the user keeps theeyes holding unit detached from the pantograph. 10 on the model or imagethat is being reproduced Fig. 3 is an enlarged View of thepencil-holding while manipulating the pencil with the hand. unit showingthe use of the hook for the little A further object is to provide anappliance such finger and the ext-ended apron which keeps the asdescribed which in effect consists of a pantoheel of the hand fromtouching the desk. graph in a book in that the pantograph is at- Fig. 4is a reduced plan view of the book 15 tached to a base comprised ofrigid sections like or base with the pantograph removed and the a bookbinder, and which when closed or folded parts C and D folded upon eachother by means substantially encompasses the pantograph and of the clothhinge E. provides a small, compact, book-like device not One embodimentof the invention as shown in readily subject to breakage or derangement.the accompanying drawing may in general be 20 Another object is toprovide an appliance such described as a pantograph with thepencil-holdas described which in effect consists of a pantoingattachment adjusted to hold the pencil in graph with the pencil-holdingportion adapted the preferred angle for writing. to hold the pencil onthe writing slant so that As here shown the pantograph comprises an itcan be manipulated as in ordinary writing or attaching link 6 pivotallyanchored at one end, 25 drawing. as at l, to the base section C andpivoted at the Another object is to provide a device such as other endas at 8, to one end of the pencil link described, wherein a flexiblemember or link, a 9. At the other end of the link 9 a pencil holder partof the pantograph, permits of free moveis pivotally attached, as at II.Pivoted at one ment of the pantograph-unit bodily, relative to end tothe link 6, at a point between the ends of the base, without having ahinged joint and withthe latter, is a tracing bar I 2 having a downoutdamage to the unit or its anchorage to the wardly turned tracing pointl3 on its free end. base. Pivoted at one end, as at M, to a point nearthe Yet another object is to providean appliance free end of the tracingbar 12 is a tracing bar such as described wherein a base is providedwith link 15 at the other end of which it is pivoted, as 35 a novelimage or model-holding means which at l6,to the link 9. permits readyand accurate tracing of the image It is now apparent that the tracingbar i2 and without damage thereto or slipping thereof. its free point l3will operate over the base sec- Still another object is to provide anappliance tion C, whereas the pencil holder i0 and the 40 such asdescribed wherein a pencil holder can be pencil it holds will operateover the base section D. 40 readily detached from the pantograph so thatIn this connection it will be noted that the the movement and techniqueset up by the device base section C is provided with a flexible transcanbe carried on without it. parent flap or cover sheet I! rigidly joinedby the A further object is to provide a device such as fastenings It! tothe said base section and under 4 described which requires the user tohold the which may be placed the picture or model tobe pencil in thewriting position and which will copied. The model is shown at F inFig. 1. A eliminate a fulcrum or rest on the desk for any free corner IQof the cover I! is shown and propart of the hand. vided to insert andremove the copy or model With the'above and other objects in view thethat is to be traced. The flap I! not only holds invention subsists inthe novel construction and the copy but protects it from being marked or50 combination of parts hereinafter described, illusmutilated by thetracing point l3. trated in the accompanying drawing, and set The pencilholder It comprises a plate-like forth in the claims hereto appended. Itbeing member; the major portion of which is in the understood thatvarious changes in form, proform of a flat apron body 20 which isadapted portion, size and minor details of construction to support thefingers and part of the hand and 55 to slide freely on the writing paperthat may be attached to the base section D. Between its ends the pencilholder I0 is provided with an angularly disposed pencil holding portion2| in the aperture of which is a rubber grommet or clamp of any naturein which latter the pencil G may be frictionally retained. Extendinglongitudinally from the angular portion 2| of the pencil holder I0 is ashort ear portion 22 which is made to fit into a slide 23,.pivoted as atl I, to the pencil link 9. This ear portion 22 is disposed at the properangle so that it holds the pantograph up, to clear the paper, when theheel of the hand presses the apron clown fiat, in the nature of a rockeror lever. The slant of the angular portion 2| determines the angle ofthe pencil. It can be seen that if the fingers and heel of the hand reston the apron any movement of the fingers alone will be diflicult, if notimpossible, and the desired arm movement will be induced, as the fingersand hand must be moved together to manipulate the pencil.

'To keep the hand from lifting to free itself from contact with theapron portion, a hooked grip that is adjustable by bending, is providedas at 24, into which the little finger fits. The grip 2G furtherdetermines the point of rest and serves to attach the whole to the hand.

To prevent breaking or deranging the pantograph, the attaching link 6 ismade of highly flexible, flat material which will be substantially rigidrelative to the plane of the base C but flexible to normal anglesthereto. With such a link the entire pantograph may be lifted or swungupwardly from the base without damage to the appliance or to thepivot 1. Celluloid, rubber or spring steel are well suited for link 6.In Fig. 2 an illustration is given of the pantograph portion turnedover.

It should be noted that the pencil holder unit ID will turn as requiredon its pivotal connections II with the pencil link 9 and that the pencildisposition, in the holder I0, is such that the pencil-point contactwith the paper or pad is in perpendicular alignment with the pivot, thuseliminating distortion of the reproduction, which would otherwise resultfrom any pivotal movement of the pencil.

It is now apparent that by manipulating the pencil, while the hand restsupon the apron, in such a manner to trace the image with the image pointl3, the image will be reproduced on the paper by the pencil and actuatedsolely by arm movement. Continued use of the appliance teaches the userto keep the eyes on the image while the hand reproduces the latter. Thisdevelops a sense of coordination which is essential to the approvedmuscular or arm movement style of writing.

It is important to note that the foldable base and the non-breakablefeatures of the appliance as Well as the provision for collapsing itinto a small compass and in book form eliminate objections associatedwith ordinary pantographs and provide for a highly efficaciouseducational appliance which is particularly well suited for school roomusages.

It should also be noted that the entire pencilholding unit isdetachable, so that when the free movement is set up, the pencil andholder may be easily detached so that the same movement and techniquemay be continued without the use of the pantograph. Inasmuch as goodresults are obtainable in writing and drawing if the hand and eye arecoordinated, it is seen that the appliance of this invention (inrequiring that this rule be followed) will serve to develop the desiredwriting and drawing propensities of the user.

The element of amusement and busy work entering into, enlarging with theappliance, reinforces the memory and enhances its value in teachingchildren.

I claim:

1. In a writing coordinator, a pantograph having a flexible link, andmeans for pivotally securing said link to a base, said link beingflexible L in one plane only in a plane perpendicular to the plane ofthe surface over which it is pivotally movable.

2. In a writing coordinator, a pantograph having a stylus holderpivotally attached thereto, said stylus holder comprising an apronportion having an upwardly inclined portion, a grommet on said inclinedportion for holding said stylus, an extension from said inclinedportion,

and attaching means on said pantograph and cooperating with saidextension for securing said stylus holder to said pantograph.

3. In a writing coordinator the combination of a pantograph and-a pencilholding unit therefor, said pantograph having a flexible link forattaching the pantograph to the base, said link being flexible in allplanes except that of the base, said pencil unit comprising an apronportion shaped to form a rocker lever so that the attaching end liftsthe pantograph when the free end is pressed down.

4. In a writing coordinator, a pantograph including a stylus holderarranged to hold a stylus on an angle of less than ninety degrees andswivel means for attaching said holder to the pantograph.

5. In a writing coordinator, a pantograph including a flexible link andmeans for effecting a pivotal connection of said link with a base, saidlink being inflexible in the plane of the surface over which it ispivotally movable in use and otherwise capable of being flexed andtwisted without damage thereof or derangement of its pivotalconnect-ions.

6. In a writing coordinator, a pantograph including a resilient flexiblelink and means for effecting a pivotal connection of said link with abase, said link being inflexible in the plane of the surface over whichit is pivotally movable in use and otherwise capable of being flexed andtwisted without damage thereof or derangement of its, pivotalconnections, said link automatically returning to normal position whenflexing or twisting forces are removed therefrom.

GEORGE T. WRIDE.

